Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc*

Remembering...

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 04:20:00 +0000

On this day 10 years ago, I was essentially a newcomer in Australia having arrived just six weeks prior to do postgraduate studies. 11 September is a day that requires no year. Almost everybody could remember what they did that day or what they were doing when they first heard of the life-changing events the following morning as was the case for most of us Down Under. Australia is 14 hours ahead the local time in New York. Thus, news of the overwhelming events that unfolded during the saddest and worst day in American history came close to 11.00 that evening. Most Australians would have been already fast asleep.

My sister in Manila, Philippines sent a text message telling me to quickly look at CNN - that something terrible was happening to some buildings in New York and she added that events were eerily reminiscent of Tom Clancy's Debt of Honor (we're both fans of Tom Clancy books, particularly the Jack Ryan series).

I caught some of the coverage of the events on CNN and BBC that night but didn't fully grasp and understood the enormity of the tragedy until I watched the TV coverage and scoured the printed and online news the following day.

Today, going over news and coverage of the 10th anniversary, the numbers associated with 9/11 seem to be highlighted more and best describe, in hindsight, the immensity of its impact - to name some:

93 Nationalities of victims;
2.3 Magnitude, on the Richter scale, of the seismic impact of the north tower's (WTC 1) collapse;
7 days passed before the city's EPA administrator, said the air in New York was "safe to breathe";
261 days passed before the last piece of steel was carted away.

But what does September 11 mean? The events that day affected scores of people and in so many ways that its meaning will likewise be as diverse.

I think this reply is one which I found rather poignant thus far. It's from 15-year old Sasha Vaccaro* who was in a kindergarten four blocks from the World Trade Centre that day. He recalled that his father carried him away as the second plane struck the south tower. He saw both buildings aflame and along with his father, he cried. When asked what 9/11 means, he said ..."I honestly don't know. I can't understand why people would do that. I don't know what to say. It's just sadness. That's all it will ever be. Lots and lots of sadness".

*The New York Times 9/11: The Reckoning Article - Getting Here from There, N.R. Kleinfield (Published 08 September 2011).

However, the aftermath of the tragedy gave rise to many stories of heroic efforts. Ten years hence, among those stories I find moving are the recollections about the over 300 search and rescue dogs who helped in the effort to find victims.

"What a dog could do with its nose was invaluable in the search. What a dog could do with its heart was equally invaluable."

Most of these canine heroes have passed away. Fifteen of them, however, are featured in Charlotte Dumas' book Retrieved (2011).

Myself for company

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:45:00 +0000

Why travel alone? Numerous books and blogs have extolled the wonders of solo travel. Others have said that it's the ultimate in self-indulgence and the perfect time for deep introspection.

For me, travelling solo is empowering. Perhaps, it's true that we do take on different masks or simply free ourselves from our usual persona - "that traveling almost strips one from character".

Alain de Botton succinctly pointed out, "It seemed an advantage to be traveling alone. Our responses to the world are crucially molded by the company we keep, for we temper our curiosity to fit in with the expectations of others. They may have particular visions of who we are and hence may subtly prevent certain sides of us from emerging… Being closely observed by a companion can also inhibit our observation of others; then, too, we may become caught up in adjusting ourselves to the companions questions and remarks, or feel the need to make ourselves seem more normal than is good for our curiosity (The Art of Travel, p252)."

Perhaps the challenge of being a lone traveler and not beholden to a travel companion or a schedule, heightens the travel experience and allows for more discovery of oneself outside the confines of the secure and comfortable bubble of the regular day-to-day activities. For me, everything seems more beautiful, taste buds are on overdrive as everything tastes better. Having a receptive mindset, being alone seem to magnify the vividness of the travel adventure. You tend to absorb every detail and sensation - soak in everything about the experience.

Of course, there would always be that occasional snippets of times when company is sought particularly when the experience is best shared - such as gawking at an impressionist painting you didn't think you'll ever see in person or standing before magnificent architectural edifices you only read about, more so when spine-tingling vistas and landscapes unfold before your very eyes.

But it seems that the benefits of solo travel outweigh the drawbacks. Mistakes and travel faux pas are definitely your own - and I certainly had my share (but that's for another post). However, for all the goof ups, the triumphs are all the more sweeter.

The scenic Romantic Road

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:02:00 +0000

On this day last year, 16 February, was Shrove Tuesday. It was also the 10th day of my European sojourn and I found myself in Munich. It was the 9th stop in my amazing race around Europe. Ten solid days of the grey and bleak wintry weather. Having left Adelaide at the tail end of the southern hemisphere summer, I was by then missing seeing the sun and Australian blue skies. The novelty of experiencing snow was starting to wear off.

But motivating myself and thinking positively that the snowfall is surely bound to stop at some point, I crossed my fingers that what's on offer for the day will be special. This was the leg of the trip where I drove from Munich via the Romantic Road to Schwangau, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and ending in Frankfurt.

I left the hotel at 6.45am for the two hour drive to Schwangau, Bavaria southwest of Munich to make the pre-booked 10.50am tour of the King's Castles*. My road trip adventure began with trying to get out of the city which took me the better part of the hour just to get on to Autobahn A 96 / E54. Much as I loved the Mercedes Benz A Class rental, the built-in GPS would only indicate which street I was on and a compass for orientation. I had to call on my navigational skills, rely on the Hertz free map with challenging text and font size and the printed details of the route and directions I downloaded from Google Map (Did I mention printed in A5 paper size?). I got lost 3 times including taking the wrong ramp at B2R and finding myself on the wrong direction while at the busy Autobahn which meant that I was heading north back towards Munich again! I wanted an adventure - I got an adventure.

By 8am, I was finally on the way but panic started to set in again as I couldn't go past 80kph due to heavy fog. I was starting to worry that I'll definitely miss claiming those already-paid-for tickets in time for the tour of the two castles. Then about 65kms into the trip and getting on to the start of the Romantic Road (B17) on the way to Landsberg am Lech, (drum roll)... the sun came out and woahh...the postcard perfect winter landscapes started to unfold.

After 10 gloomy days, I saw the blue skies and the winter scenes of the Bavarian countryside were awe-inspiring. I remember thinking that if it's this beautiful in winter what more in autumn or spring (mental note for next trip). I was treated to so much visual delight and teasing glimpses of the quaint and picturesque towns along the route that I found it annoying I was pressed for time and not have the luxury to stop to take it all in.

Then by 10am, I saw the Neuschvanstein Castle. And there she was - dream-like and perfectly perched on the mountain slopes. With goosebumps, tingles down my spine and a lot of oohs and aahs (and screeching!) reverberating within the confines of the car, the day was certainly going to be perfect.

I left Hoheschwangau at 4.30 in the afternoon after a fun-filled and a full 8GB compact flash memory card! JOY! I continued with the drive along the scenic Romantische Strasse to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for an overnight stay.

Here are some of images:

St Coloman Church along Coloman Strasse

Hohenschwangau Castle

Neuschvanstein Castle

*Serendipitously, 2010 was the first time the Castles were open to tourists on a Shrove Tuesday.

My Amazing Race

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 07:26:00 +0000

A year ago this weekend, I took the plunge and went on my biggest solo travel trip to date. My almost month long European adventure began on the 5th of February 2010. The trip was 24 days to be exact including air travel and an overnight and full-day stay in Singapore to visit and catch up with my bestfriend and her family.

As a methodical planner, creating and planning the vacation/adventure of my dreams took over a year and the four months prior to the trip was spent ironing out details.

The preparation and planning was not an easy feat. In 2009 much of the world was in the grips of the financial crisis - the ominous effects of the worldwide economic downturn hanging in the air. With the currency exchange rates pretty much a deal breaker, I decided early on to experience off season travel and plunge into wintry Europe. The major drawback, of course, is the weather - made more graphic by the horrible stories around Christmas time by the experiences of snowbound travellers, particularly in airports and transport hubs. Hence, the decision to do the trip during the tail-end of winter - in February 2010. Sounds childish but I actually looked forward to seeing winter landscapes.

Pouring over maps, travel guides, travel videos and travel books, I locked in my travel budget and booked my 'open-jaw' ticket to Europe in August 2009 - fly in to Amsterdam via Singapore and fly out from Paris back to Adelaide via Singapore.

By the end of September 2009, I was able to work out the final itinerary I am most happy with:
Singapore * Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans * Bruxelles - Cologne * Berlin * Prague * Vienna * Salzburg * Munich * Romantic Road - Landsberg, Schwangau, Füssen, Augsburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Würzburg * Frankfurt * Zurich * Rome * Florence * Venice * Paris - Angers - Paris * Singapore

Phew...I know, I know - too much to take on travelling solo and on such a tight schedule!

My own Amazing Race around Europe! But I tell you, if I'm to sum up the trip in one word - it was empowering. After the trip, I felt I can pretty much do any thing I set my mind to.

Tour Down Under

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:25:00 +0000

Having missed this year's 2011 Tour Down Under in Adelaide, I wasn't able to complete my photo-chronicle of Lance Armstrong's participation in the cycling race. Armstrong's attendance in the tour has come to an end with this year as his last.

Not that I know anything about professional cycling but in 2009, I was one of those who braved the sweltering Adelaide summer for some photo opportunities. In 2010, I once again took to my favourite spot on Montefiore Hill in North Adelaide to replicate those 2009 race images.

These images of Lance Armstrong were from last year's Santos Tour Down Under:

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:03:00 +0000

Happy new year's greetings from Melbourne!

New year, new home city and new job! I have 'seized the day' and relocated to a new city to take on new work in research. My usual annual 'taking stock of things' and of looking forward to what's in store for the new year will take on a different flavour this time - one that I hope will be exciting and a whole new adventure.

Looking back, 2010 was certainly memorable and packed with milestones accomplished (along with a fair share of frustrations) which I have yet to chronicle bits of it here. It is convenient that this blog is 'in-hindsight' (hehehe). I hope everyone has already drawn up those usual lists (to do, wishlists and goals) to arm themselves for the year? Notwithstanding these lists, CARPE DIEM.

Have a wonderful 2011 everyone!

A numbers game

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:45:00 +0000

Last week we witnessed the power of the numbers game.

Two tennis players on Court 18, donned in the traditional Wimbledon white garbs, wowed the world with a tennis marathon lasting 11 hours and 5 minutes of play (spread out over 3 days)! The numbers: final score between American John Isner
and France's Nicolas Mahut: 6-4 3-6 6-7 7-6 70-68.

In Australia on 24 June 2010, in a historic decision by the ruling Labor Party (ALP), a leadership handover occured with a vote of 70 from a Caucus of 112 and gave the country its first female prime minister - Julia Gillard.

"I didn't set out to crash my head on any glass ceilings. I set out to keep my feet on the floor and to be there walking the streets talking to Australians about what's the right thing for this nation." - Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

With the looming Australian federal election by the end of the year, as some pundits would have it, this leadership change was a coup that needed to happen - if Labor
intends to avoid an electoral defeat after just one term. Delivering a confident and
clever speech as the new leader, Julia Guillard showed her considerable mettle which will certainly make the parliamentary debates more interesting. "Game on", says Ms Gillard to the opposition leader, Mr Tony Abbott.

In an age of excess

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:31:00 +0000

Early this week was the opening of the world's tallest building, the 200-storey Burj Khalifa (Skidmore, Owings & Merill). The following article by Binoy Kampmark** (reprinted from Crikey of the InDaily - Independent Weekly, 8 January 2010) offers an interesting viewpoint on Dubai's living in an age of excess:

Omens of Doom: Dubais Burj Khalifa Tower

It is a colossus, towering over the Dubai skyline. The company behind it claims to have made a successful return of 10 percent. The local paper, the Khaleej Times, did not shy away from hyperbole, seeing the building as an example of human courage and humankind's ability to dream and deliver, giving the world an achievement difficult to surpass.

The Burj Khalifa Tower, renamed in tribute to Dubai's bailout donor, Abu Dhabi's Sheik Khalifa, dwarfs all that have come before it. It is a monstrous compilation of gimmicks in some ways, another addition to the mix of Vegas-styled faux islands, shopping centres and ski runs. Dubai portends to be a place of trickery, entertainment and massive expense accounts. The building itself boasts 200 floors, and rises to 828 meters. It promises to be the home of the first Armani Hotel. Patrons are whisked between floors in elevators at the speed of 18 metres a second. But what does this building suggest about Dubai and the architectural madness that characterizes such efforts?

For one thing, the creation strikes deeply at the apocalyptic language of the recently concluded Copenhagen Climate Change conference. The Sheiks seem less interested in carbon footprints than oil-financed structures of glass and steel. They keep company with architects such as Adrian Smith, the designer of the Burj Khalifa and Cesar Pelli, who gave England the One Canada Square and Malaysia the Petronas Twin Towers.

Dubai suffers, like tyrants, from an overwhelming edifice complex. Its spending complex resembles the efforts of the Pharaohs and their pyramid projects, or those of the medieval Catholic Church: bigger is better, huge monuments to progress, humanity and God. Sometimes, the smaller the state, the more obsessed the efforts in building the Tower of Babel. Megalomania is the classic byproduct of inferiority complexes, often induced by money without sense.

All of these point to a thesis formulated in 1999 by Andrew Lawrence he dubbed the Skyscraper Index. These figures of modernity seem to precede periods of crisis. At low points of the business cycle, these architectural Cyclops seem to rise. The Empire State building was conceived in 1929, the same year of Black Tuesday (October 29) and the onset of the Great Depression. The Sears Tower of the 1970s towered over a society in the grip of stagflation and oil shocks. The monumental Petronas Twin Towers opened in 1997, the year when Asian currencies took a pummeling, humbling Asia's Tiger economies.

In the civilisational sense, this may also be true: the big building, or building project, is a symptom of decay. The American novelist Henry James certainly thought so, though he was thinking of it more in the aesthetic sense. In an economic sense, the great building project tends to forecast ruin. Athens passed quietly into the shade after the building of the Acropolis. Henry VIII of England and Christian IV of Denmark were builders who drained their treasuries, left magnificent buildings, yet failed consistently on the battlefield. The building efforts of the Pharaohs, as Paul Johnson pointed out in 2005, suggest a hubristic tendency that eventually will meet nemesis. The Wall Street Journal (5 January 2010) was confident that such a building mania would not last, sniping at Dubais paltry credentials on economic freedom, rule of law, hard work and sound management relative to such cities as Houston and Hong Kong. Without these, nations and cities alike build nothing but foundations of sand.

Given the precedents set by previous failed civilizations, the omens are not good. Dubai's economy is in a mess. Sheik Khalifa has been generous to the tune of $10 billion. In an age of environmental sensitivities and proliferating green fan clubs, we might well be witnessing a dying breed. When the excitement does die down, the business of preventing Dubai from sliding into oblivion will begin.

The LA Times likewise printed a similar interesting editorial. Likened to the Tower of Babel, architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne described the Burj Khalifa as a "tombstone for some ruined ideas". Though much of the tower's apartments have been sold (as investment properties), its 37 floors of office spaces remains mostly empty and are mostly likely to remain so with virtually no demand for office space in Dubai.

Economically not sensible versus architectural vision to marvel at? Yet again, another testament to megalomania.

**Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lecturers at RMIT University, Melbourne.

Happy new and bountiful 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:03:00 +0000

Losing clarity

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 24 May 2009 05:16:00 +0000

This blog has lost its plot for sometime now and I apologise. Post Hoc was originally intended to chronicle in restrospect my struggles while in graduate school and of course what I have been up to after getting those nominals. But for sometime now, it has turned into a photoblog. However, it is my intention to fill these pages again with topics and musings on a variety of subjects other than my passion for photography. Hence, to keep things in order, I have created a separate photoblog - Digressions in Pixels. Post Hoc will thus be dedicated as the platform for my sentiments, general take on things and on a variety of topics associated with 'my intellectual and not-so intellectual pursuits' and some mundane ramblings. The World on Paper, which I have likewise neglected, will continue as my channel for architecture and design.

I hope I am up to the task(s) and not disappoint.

...then at sundown

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:38:00 +0000

After doing the sunrise shots, I had the opportunity of capturing some amazing sunset images. South Australia's coast along the western shore of Fleurieu Peninsula affords perhaps one of the best sunsets in the world. The jetties that dot the shoreline of Gulf Saint Vincent offers dramatic vistas with the setting sun as backdrop.

Taking a little road trip with two photobuddies, our destination was the coastal town of Willunga, about 50 kms south of Adelaide CBD. This town has one of the iconic locations for amazing sunsets - the remains of the old Port Willunga jetty, c 1910.

With daylight savings time still in effect, sunsets would be late than usual giving us ample time to leave work, beat the heavy Friday traffic and be at the location for the shoot. We knew (and hoped) that the sunset would be perfect.

The panoramic view of the few remaining piles of the old Port Willunga jetty did not disappoint. From the top of the cliff, a breathtaking view of the sunset greeted us.

The Port Willunga jetty, c 1868-1913
The few remaining piles are what is left of the jetty constructed in 1867 located 400 metres south of the original jetty built in 1853.

Out on a Friday night chasing light? - truly well worth it.

At first light

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:29:00 +0000

Dragging myself out of bed before sunup especially on a weekend is such a feat. With the start to autumn and the now chilly mornings, I would rather sleep in. Who wouldn't? But having longer nights and with end to daylight savings still two weeks away, sunrise in Adelaide would be around 7am (CST). Still pretty much not a big ask to roll out of bed for some early morning photographic adventure.

Inspired by Christina Dickson's entertaining narrative on sunrise photography tips, over the weekend, I found myself setting up on top of Montefiore Hill in North Adelaide well before daybreak for my first sunrise photographs.

For awhile there, I thought the seemingly dark clouds on the south-west will usher in a downpour. Not armed with an umbrella to protect the gear, I braced myself being caught in a rather unpleasant predicament. But all's well - though it did rain, it was light and did not last long to entirely ruin my outing.

Then, in Christina's words, "I smile..."

Out early in the morning, loss of sleep - truly well worth it.

Sizzling Hot

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Adelaide continues to sizzle this week - though not with hot sporting events within and around the city but scorching record 40-plus degree temperatures. The furnace-like temperatures across most of South Australia and Victoria started early this week on Australia Day. In Adelaide, Australia Day temperatures maxed at 36.6°C and soared yesterday to 43°C to be the hottest day in five years in the city.

Today's maximum temperature in the city of 45.7°C was likewise one for the record books. Yet no cool change is in sight with a forecast of a 6-day run of 40deg-temperatures. A similar weather forecast holds for Melbourne, where the gripping final games of the Australian Open are playing out. As the grand slam tournament is typically held in the middle of the Australian summer, the games are noted for its hot days. Thus, it is the only major tournament in the world that has an extreme heat policy. Melbourne's temperature soared to 41°C today which called for the policy to be enacted for the first time.

It was fortunate that last week's Tour Down Under in Adelaide experienced relatively milder temperature conditions which were ideal both for the cyclists and spectators.

I shared in the 'Lance Fever' that gripped the city. The record attendance to this year's tour events, up by 35% from last year, was certainly due to the Armstrong factor.

In the final Stage 6 of the race held in the city, I was one of the 144,000 spectators who lined the Adelaide streets despite the sweltering 35°C heat to catch a [g]Lance of perhaps the biggest name in the sport - essentially a brand. Apparently, this record number represented the most for any single sporting event in Australia. Not knowing anything about professional cycling races, I amazed even myself that I patiently stayed for the whole 18 laps of the stage just to be able to take a picture of Lance Armstrong. My patience was wonderfully rewarded at Lap 16 when I eventually captured the images I wanted:

Of course, with full cognition, these images were to be had at a price - painful sunburnt arms! Livestrong!

Karen Cheng did an enlightening interview with Lance Armstrong and sheds light on what motivates this great athlete (as seen in Shai Coggins).

America's Renewal

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:57:00 +0000

This is the headline of paper version of this morning's The Australian as Australia woke up to a new US President. As I watched the evening news earlier, even halfway around the world, I can feel the euphoria of Obama's historic inauguration and its place in history.

Among the best articles I read today is from the foreign editor of The Australian, Greg Sheridan's thought-provoking article (p1), "Throwing off the chains of history":

From slavery to the US presidency; from shackles to the Oval Office; from laws banning inter-racial marriage barely a generation ago to the son of an inter-racial marriage running the place today.

From segregated drinking fountains and classrooms and public utilities to the most powerful nation in the history of the world placing its faith in an African-American to lead it in troubled times. The transformation in the status of African-Americans is surely now complete.

This is truly the stuff of history. And the history is not at all so long ago. Former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Colin Powell recalls in his memoirs driving to a base in the south and being unable to use the bathrooms at the service stations along the way, because these facilities were not available to coloured folks.

Of course, once this celebration is over we should really forget Barack Obama's skin colour. Martin Luther King's dream was that all of us should be judged by the content of our character, not by the colour of our skin.

But just as, a generation ago, Irish Catholics felt immense pride at the election of John F Kennedy - the first Catholic president - so too now we can feel immense pride in Obama's achievement in reaching the most powerful office in the world.

And here's another thing: to fall in love with Obama, as the world is showing every sign of doing, it is necessary to fall in love with America.

For the world to fall in love with America all over again is entirely a good thing, and is just as it should be. Every good element in Obama's life comes from his hard work and talent, but also from the normal workings of American society.

In America, talented people from all types of backgrounds reach the top if they work hard - ask Condoleeza Rice or Powell, two black US secretaries of state.

Obama's background - a multi-racial childhood in Hawaii - is as apple pie American as any other background. A good mother, devoted grandparents, the best private school in Hawaii, the American meritocracy finding a way to get the young man to two of the finest universities in the world - Columbia and Harvard - and this is not bizzare aberration in America. This is the way America works.

The hopes invested in Obama are too great for any human being to fulfil. Our cynical secular age belives in almost nothing now except the authenticity of ethnic identity, and in the Obama celebrations they have found an excuse for an orgy of identity celebration.

At the end of the day, Obama will still have to grapple with intractable problems. Can his immense prestige bring Israeli and Palestinian together, stop an Iranian nuclear bomb, revive the American economy, pay for universal healthcare?

Yet the secular sainthood to which the normally cynical secular culture of the West has elevated Obama does indeed contain the seeds of genuine new hope.

These past eight years have been so difficult in part because a large section of American, and international, opinion never accepted the legitimacy of the George W Bush presidency. He stole the votes in Florida, they held. He spoke in terrible Texan accent. His brand of evangelical Christianity was all wrong. But no one in the world - except perhaps al-Qa'ida and the government-sponsored demonstrators in Tehran - disputes Obama's legitimacy, not just as president of America but as a kind of secular pope.

Here's another profound trick. Obama has kept most of the policies - and a startling number of the people - from the heart of the Bush administration.

Millions of people who six months ago hated the US will now be doing what they can to help a Washington administration succeed in the world.

That is the dawn of a bright new day, and a remarkable sign of America's resilience, and perhaps the world's last, best hope.

DownUnder sizzles

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Around this time of the year, in the middle of sizzling summer, Australia is abuzz with premier sport tournaments. Starting with the Boxing Day Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the Commonwealth Bank Series: Australia vs South Africa Cricket and of course, the smorgasbord of tennis tournaments - Hopman Cup (Perth), Medibank International (Sydney), AAMI Kooyong Classic (Melbourne), Brisbane International and highlighted by the Australian Open in Melbourne which is the first of the four grand slam tournaments in world tennis.

Adelaide will not miss out on these premier sporting events. Last week saw the first World Tennis Challenge (14-16 January 2009) at the War Memorial Drive. This week, however, is perhaps one of the biggest events - the first pro-cycling race of the year, the 800km Tour Down Under. This year's tour is made much more special because of Lance Armstrong's participation as his comeback race. The cycling tournament kickstart the week-long event today with the 51km Cancer Council Classic Race at Rymill Park right in the heart of the city. Armstrong maintains that he will not win his first race after over three years of hiatus but I'm sure with race fever gripping Adelaide, he will be a sight to see. I hope to watch Stage 6 (Adelaide City Council Circuit) of the race on the final day of the tour - hopefully catch a glimpse of the bike with number 1274 and perhaps photos of the amazing sportsman, his team - Astana and all the other Australian and International riders in action.

Last but not the least and capping this exciting week will be the Cricket Test: Australia vs South Africa on Australia Day, 26 January.

Seize the day!

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:36:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

It's time again for the annual 'taking stock of things' and of looking forward to what's in store for the new year. I'm sure a good number have already drawn up those ever-present lists (to do, wishlists and goals) for the year.

As for me, regardless of how 2008 was (certainly with milestones accomplished, memorable moments and likewise a fair share of lows and frustrations), in my 'annual review', I resolve to make the most of each moment 2009 will bring - armed of course with those lists of wants and goals. In looking back over the last year, I found that I've let a number of things slip by that I missed out altogether. I guess, as with everyone else, in staying focused on specific things I get this tunnel vision that more often than not I've become so oblivious to what was going on in the bigger picture.

Having focus in attaining goals does not preclude the necessity of living in the present moment. Good advice, huh? I thought so too. I heard this a few weeks ago and it's been at the back of my mind since that along with my 'lists' for the new year, I've written down a reminder to be alert and not to let opportunity pass me by - CARPE DIEM!

Have a wonderful 2009 everyone!

Holiday Greetings

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:57:00 +0000

Christmas has come and gone and I missed posting a holiday greeting. But since we're only halfway through the holiday break, I'll get one in just the same.

To everyone, Happy Holidays! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas spent with family, loved ones and friends.

I'd like to say thank you to those who took the time to read my posts in the past year - even though I haven't been consistent in posting in the last few months.

Wishing everyone a new year filled with more joy and blessings!

Orange Penguins

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Popular Penguins, an imprint of the Penguin Group (Australia), has published 50 bestselling titles dressed in the distinctive 1935 orange and white livery.

Titles in the collection include Alain de Botton's The Consolations of Philosophy, Michel Foucault's The History of Sexuality: Volume 1 and Richard P Feynman's Six Easy Pieces.

The Popular Penguins is a reprise of the Allen Lane's brainchild in 1935 when he published then contemporary titles and made readily available by selling them at the affordable cost of sixpence (which was the cost of a pack of cigarettes then).

The 2008 Orange Penguins are likewise priced at an attractive cost of AU$9.95. Grab a couple of titles for a bit of fun reading over the holidays. With 50 to choose from, you are bound to find one (or more) that would interest you. Enjoy!

Global crisis with local implications

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:44:00 +0000

It has been a month since the filing for bankruptcy protection by a Wall Street giant and the government rescue of two more financial institutions. Yet the meltdown is still unfolding - rapidly. The whole world is still coming to grips with the devastating effects of the US financial crisis and its consequent impact on the global financial markets. The series of events that changed the global financial markets is presented in this timeline.

But the events in the last months has been brewing for sometime now. Just over a year ago, I saw an investigative TV report on the "US subprime mortgage crisis" by Paul Barry which was aired in Four Corners, an ABC current affairs program in Australia. In hindsight, the issues discussed by those interviewed where prophetic in light of the current financial situation which is now always the first story in the daily news cycle, particularly in the last 2 months. "When the US sneezes the rest of the world gets the cold." (Mortgage Meltdown, 17 September 2007).

One financial market analyst told the program then of the foreseeable effect of the mortgage meltdown: "I don’t think anybody anywhere in the world is going to be immune. It’s a question of degree rather than whether they’re affected." Monday's Four Corners, 13 September 2008 revisited the story as Australians take in the implications of the crisis a year on.

I am still struggling in understanding the intricacies of what precipitated the crisis. For somebody not well versed with economic nuances, it is mind-boggling that well-established financial institutions have 'lost the plot'. A.W. Bodine and C.J. Nagel provided an insightful analysis and commentary on the subprime crisis. In a nutshell, Bodine and Nagel highlighted that this financial mess is attributable to bankers and mavens choosing to forget that "high return and low risk do not go hand in hand".

In the past two weeks, the Australian Federal government has been consistent in giving its assurance that notwithstanding the implications of the global financial system meltdown, the Australian financial system is relatively robust. Take for example the banking sector. Just middle of this year the rankings of 3,000 banks in the world compiled from balance sheet information had the top 10 banks from, among others, the UK, Germany, France, US, Switzerland, Netherlands. However, in a report filed with Reuters last week, the top 5 soundest banking systems based on The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report are (1) Canada, (2) Sweden, (3) Luxembourg, (4) Australia and (5) Denmark. It is interesting to note that in addition to having sound balance sheets, the basis of the ranking now includes looking at how insolvent a country's banking system is and if a government bailout is possibly required.

It is comforting to know that Australia is setting concrete measures in dealing with the financial crisis. Just last week, coupled with the 1% interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia, the steepest interest cut since 1992, the Australian government will also guarantee all deposits of Australian banks, building societies and credit unions and Australian subsidiaries of foreign-owned banks for the next three years to bolster confidence in the banking system. More announcements made earlier today include the government's economic stimulus package to mitigate the impact of the world crisis on Australian households.

But it is a certainty that nobody is immune to what is happening. Millionaire Mommy Next Door gives us a list of things to do to survive the economic crisis and on a lighter note, Time's Lisa Takeuchi Cullen has these survival tips to share.

As for me, this downtime calls for more prudence and circumspection and that means setting aside my some of the things in my varied 'wishlists' for the time being.

Mea Culpa

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:41:00 +0000

I have been neglectful of this blog for over two months that I don't know where to begin. But with so many things that happened in the last 11 weeks or so, I should have plenty of 'blog' material. The pressure!

August saw a trip home - a 10-day visit to the family, among others, to be godmother to my second nephew - Miguel Pedro. As always, it was wonderful to be with the family and get to know my nieces and nephews - they now number 7! September brought in a change in my resident status DownUnder (Oi! Oi!).

Apart from the overseas trip, I also made a couple of interstate trips (yes, up goes those CO2 emissions!). I have been swamped with work deadlines and morever, preoccupied with career plans. Such pressure!

Interesting two months though with everybody(?) on tenterhooks with the Wall Street meltdown, the US economic recession and its global impact. Following on to my last post, September also saw the release of the Garnaut Climate Change Review Final Report.

But all is well. I hope to put in my two cents' worth on these interesting current events. Stay tuned.

To tread on Earth lightly...

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:11:00 +0000

This past week Australia is abuzz with "Think climate, Think change" with the government's release of the green paper, Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme following the release early this month of the draft report of the Garnaut Climate Change Review, a commissioned review to examine the impacts, challenges and opportunities for climate change in Australia.

The public responds to tangible environmental problems (Matthew Warren, 2008). Unlike other environmental problems such as those associated with the use of plastic bags which have been given much focus because of its visibility, climate change has been harder to sell and be accepted by the wider public because anthropogenic emissions, by its nature, are invisible. However, as Warren (2008) indicated, putting a price on greenhouse emissions will certainly get the public's attention.

Albeit missing that crucial bottom line of the cost implication on cutting the country's greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of the emissions trading scheme, surprisingly, even with the limited and/or lack of understanding of how ETS works, latest national poll indicate a 67% support for carbon pollution reduction.

With certainty, the biggest impact of the ETS on households will be rises in the cost of energy and fuel from 2010. Estimates predicted electricity costs would rise by 16 per cent and gas by 9 per cent. "The Government wants those price rises felt so we are encouraged to phase out use of carbon-producing goods and services." Under the scheme, Australian motorists are given five years notice from hereon of the impending price impact of carbon pollution reduction scheme on petrol and that motorists should prepare for this by shifting to smaller cars and driving less.

With humans as comfort-seeking creatures, almost all of our daily activities would create carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. So, unless we live in caves and never gather around fire for warmth, we have a carbon footprint. Australia has the second highest carbon footprint after the U.S., a reflection of the ubiquitous energy-hungry lifestyles.

By comparison, the U.S. average is 21 tonnes, New Zealand is 13 tonnes,
and Japan is 10 tonnes. The average Australian household of 2.5 people has a 14.6-tonne carbon footprint which equates to an average Australian contributing approximately 6 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere per year.

Using C02 emission calculators available online: Carbonify.com and Carbon neutral, I have worked out my impact on the environment. To my disappointment, in the last three years, I averaged 47% more than the national average at 8.16 to 8.82 tonnes of CO2 per year!

Household waste: 1.22 tonnes (13%) = 8 trees
Food emissions: 2.6 tonnes (29%) = 16 trees
Vehicle travel: 0
Air travel: 4.08 tonnes (46%) = 25 trees
Energy use: 0.92 tonnes (12%) = 6 trees

Following the rule of thumb that on average, 6 trees are needed to offset
1 tonne, I would need 40-53 trees to offset my impacts on the environment!

How to tread lightly on Earth? Being aware that offsetting should be seen as a last resort, am I willing to cut down on activities to reduce my emissions contribution?

Adelaide at dusk

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:56:00 +0000

Update (06 October 2008): This photo is also featured in the ABC 2009 Weather Calendar - South Australia (December).

This photo of the Adelaide Riverside Precinct - Torrens Lake taken from the Adelaide City Bridge was the weather photo featured in last Thursday's 7.00pm ABC (Adelaide) news (03 July 2008). This view is frequently featured in postcard photographs of the city that I thought I'd take one myself. This was one of the successful shots in my first attempt at night photography.

The photo shows the Riverbank Promenade alongside Elder Park and a segment of the linear river park. This linear park, which is the earliest in Australia, bounds the suburban end of the river and is 35 kms long with playgrounds, walkways and bicycle tracks. On the southbank of the lake, adjacent to Elder Park is the Adelaide Festival Centre. Built in 1973, the cluster of theatres comprising the Festival Centre occupies the area north of the Adelaide Parliament House where the Adelaide Public Baths, 1863-1969 used to be. The baths were built in 1861 and featured Turkish Baths suites, an Olympic size swimming pool (1940 addition) and diving tower. Prominent buildings along the southbank include the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The 470 megalitre Torrens Lake was created in 1881 with the construction of a weir, landscaping of Elder Park and modification of the river’s bank and surrounds into an English formal park. The lake forms a centrepiece of many Adelaide events and postcard scenes. At the lake's official opening on 21 July 1881 an estimated 40,000, almost the entire population of Adelaide, attended. Elder Park with its iron rotunda was opened on 28 November 1882.

Flickr tags in graphics

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:28:00 +0000

This image shows all the Flickr tags I have used to date compiled using Rev Dan Catt's text generator for Wordle.

As seen at Mowling's Flickr photostream and Michael Surtee's DesignNotes.

Exploring Adelaide's architectural marvels

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:51:00 +0000

This morning I took part in a walking tour of art deco architectural highlights of Adelaide CBD hosted by the Art Deco Society - Adelaide Chapter.

The tour revealed a number of architectural gems tucked away in the city's side streets. Notable and my favourites are the Laubman and Pank Optometrists and Gritti Palace, Bank of South Australia, Fletcher Jones Building and the Gilbert Place Apartments.

Architectural examples of this early 20th century international movement have
always held some fascination along with the Bauhaus style, Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau.

In the Philippines, particularly Manila, Art Deco is associated with American colonial architecture. This architectural style flourished when the country was an American colony. Buildings that I fondly remember include the Metropolitan Theatre and Far Eastern University. However, a number of the buildings were destroyed in the Second World War or have been demolished.

In Adelaide, impressive examples that remain almost in their original designs include cinemas, residences and commercial buildings.

Adelaide City Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (MMAndamon) — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:17:00 +0000

The photograph featured today in the weather segment of the ABC 7:00pm News (Adelaide) was this photo of the Adelaide City Bridge.

Bridges have always held a certain fascination for me. For the most part regarded as engineering feats, these structures are likewise architectural design marvels. Taking the course in Architectural Science as part of my undergraduate degree, I became more fascinated in the engineering design of bridges.

The Adelaide City Bridge, also known as the King William Street Bridge in Adelaide, South Australia is one of ten bridges that span the River Torrens. The first bridge was one of timber built in 1839 approximately 500 metres west of the current City bridge, but destroyed by floods in September 1844. In 1849, £6000 was allocated to bridge the Torrens. Within four years three wooden bridges had been built and subsequently destroyed in floods.

In June 1856 the English-manufactured, iron City Bridge was opened, extending King William Street to North Adelaide. A photograph of the City Bridge, circa 1866 shows a bowstring type suspension bridge design with trussed arches. Another Townsend Duryea photograph circa 1866 shows the road over the City Bridge. The iron bridge was widened in 1877 then converted into a two-lane bridge in 1884.

In 1931, the bridge was replaced with a concrete open spandrel deck arch structure. The present day concrete bridge features art deco architectural details reminiscent of the popular movement of the 1930s.

See also: Bridge Basics for a general description of most bridge types.